Hail Damage and How It Affects Your Roof

When hail impacts the roof it can do one of two things. Firstly, the hail can impress the granuals into the asphalt and fiberglass matt. Secondly, the hail impact may not leave an impressed dimple, but instead loosen or scrape away granuals. The granuals are there to protect the asphalt. When the asphalt is exposed to UV light, it can degrade over time. Thus, hail may not cause immediate damage, but will reduce the overall life of the roof.  In short, hail damage may not be heavy at first, but can be long term.

Metals on roofs like gutters, vents, and flashings, are exceptionally prone to hail damage. When the hail impacts the metal it can leave a dent and this can weaken and loosen the metals. In the case of metal roof vents, these can be completely flattened by hail which reduces their air flow.

How to inspect for hail damage

First check your gutters, downspouts, and siding. This can be safely and easily accomplished from the ground. If you notice impact dents then this is a sign of hail damage. Hail may create holes damaging vinyl siding beyond the cosmetic, and require replacement. Inspect for roof impact damage that can be more serious than you know and will need to be repaired.

If you do not feel comfortable climbing on top of your roof, please contact roofing professionals to do the inspection for you. If you do climb up the roof, take the utmost care with a ladder or atop a roof to avoid serious risk of injury. Once atop the roof, start by inspecting the soft metals like vents and flashings. These areas will be the most noticeable. Then proceed to inspect the field of the roof looking for dimples, which will look like blackish depressions. Check the edge of the shingles, as the hail can sometimes cause minor tears at shingle edges. Also check the gutters and the base of the downspouts for excessive damage.

When your roof has hail damage

Take photographs of the hail on the ground or on the roof. Pick up a hand full of the larger hail balls and photograph those as well. Collect several pieces of hail in a plastic bag and place in your freezer. This is all in case and insurance adjuster needs to inspect your roof and home. Also make a note of the date of the hail storm and the direction from where it came from (North, South, East, and West).